I was reading through the message boards the other day and someone pointed out that based on routine, I'd be posting a blog today. I guess it's worked out that since the tournament began, I've been posting a new blog entry every 10 days, which is a little less often than when I first made the trip out to Albuquerque, but just often enough for me to stay on track both behind the scenes and on the front lines here at the tournament.
Today, I'd like to introduce a new feature that I created for USBCopen.com called ON THE LANES WITH. ...
During the next few months, I am going to talk to some of our tournament champions, USBC Hall of Famers and other recognizable folks throughout the bowling community to get their thoughts, memories and secrets about the Open Championships and their time on the championship lanes.
The first official post will be from two-time champion John Janawicz, who rolled the highest-series in tournament history on the way to the 2004 Regular Singles and All-Events titles, but I thought I'd get things started with my own version here. And unless I somehow can win a title, this is where it will stay.
But before I do that, I'd like to wish a speedy recovery to my good friend, Steve Brinkman, who is down for the count after having his appendix removed earlier this week.
On the lanes with Matt Cannizzaro, USBC Open Championships Media Relations Manager
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS APPEARANCES: This year will be No. 10.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES: None
BOWLING BALL WEIGHT: 15
ONE all-time favorite host city: Corpus Christi, Texas
TWO best Open Championships memories: 1. Getting hired to work for USBC and being assigned to the management team at the tournament. 2. Bouncing back from 522 in team and 525 in doubles to shoot 716 in singles in 2006.
THREE keys to success at the Open Championships: 1. Block out all of the obvious distractions (friends, brackets, high ceilings, bright lights, co-workers watching, etc). 2. Relax and stay slow, it's not a house shot out there. 3. Make your spares.
FOURgettable Open Championships moment: I missed a 6 pin to cost me 30 Clean in singles in 2006.
FIVE bowlers in history on your Open Championships fantasy all-star team: Bill Lillard Sr., Steve Fehr, Dick Weber, Nelson Burton Jr. and Mike Aulby.
SIX bowling balls currently in your Open Championships arsenal: Total NV, Complete NV, Gamebreaker (2), The One, Maxim.
SEVEN cities you'd like to see the Open Championships go to/return to: Atlantic City, N.J., Tampa, Fla., Niagara Falls, N.Y., Orlando, Fla., Honolulu, Seattle and Metropolis, Ill.
EIGHT favorite bowling balls ever: Ebonite V2 Pearl, Ebonite TPC Warrior, Ebonite NR2 (re-release in 2005), Columbia Piranha (jade), Columbia Piranha (orange), Columbia Power Torq, Brunswick Danger Zone and Storm Eraser.
NINE other current/eligible bowlers you would choose to join you on your ideal pair of companion teams at the Open Championships: Steve Fehr, Wendy Macpherson, Todd Savoy, Doug Becker, Jeff Richgels, Mike Shady, Lennie Boresch Jr., Steve Brinkman, Derek Eoff.
TEN seconds or less, who is your favorite bowler of all-time?: Mike Aulby
ELEVEN strikes in a row to start a game at the Open Championships, what's going through your head?: I might get the chance to write a story about myself. Get more than seven, get more than seven.
TWELVE years from now, where do you hope to be in your bowling career?: Hopefully averaging more than 200 at the Open Championships. Also, I'd like to have new career highlight besides my runner-up finish at the Hoinke Super Classic in 2006. I think people are tired of hearing that story.
It is weeks like this that make me really enjoy my job.
First, I had the opportunity to call most of the defending Regular Division champions for a story I wrote, and wow, what an amazing group of guys. They were all so gracious and humble and appreciative. They all have inspirational views on what it means to be a USBC Open Championships titlist, and for some, I could really sense their emotion when they talked about their roles in the tournament's history. It was a great reminder that this event is built on 105 years of tradition and being a part of it means something different to every bowler.
The first defending champion to come to Albuquerque was Chip Aki. I met up with him for the first time on Friday, and he was already smiling. He had just seen the banner with his name that is hanging over the lanes, and we did our best to make him feel like a celebrity.
Last night, before his team event, Chip was announced as a champion for the first time in the squad room, and then we did something special. We arranged for his equipment to be brought out to his lane, and we let the other 239 bowlers March out the their lanes. At that point, we shut the curtain at the end of Center Aisle, introduced Chip with a short speech about his accomplishment last year in Reno, and we marched him out with an escort (Associate Tournament Manager Mindy Corr) so that all eyes would be on him. It was his moment to enjoy, and at the end of the march, he finally got to see the orange eagle next to his name on the scoreboard for the first time.
I wish I could describe the excitement and appreciation in his eyes through all of this, but I cannot find the words. He worked toward this for 26 years. To put it into perspective, though, Chip now has an eagle tattoo on his arm to symbolize his accomplishment. It is not there to be cocky, however. It was put there with a great sense of pride for a dream come true. When he showed it to me, he simply said, "Matt, winning was something I've always dreamed of, and no matter what happens after this, it's something I will always have with me."
Good luck tonight in your title defense, Chip.
The weekend also included a few more of the most inspirational people I have ever met. First, USBC Hall of Famers Jimmy Schroeder and Glenn Allison bowled on Saturday and Sunday, and they were joined by Bill Lillard Sr., who bowls Monday and Tuesday. All three men are bowling pioneers and among the greatest who have ever laced up a pair of bowling shoes. Individually, they have each made their marks on the history of the Open Championships, and seeing them here as competitors, ambassadors, champions and long-time participants makes me want to be a better bowler and a better person.
As a lifelong bowler, I am familiar with the history of the sport, and now the inner workings of the Open Championships. I've had the opportunity to meet so many great people in general as well as some of the all-time greats and players I grew up watching on TV. While I may never match their accomplishments on the lanes, I am proud to know them and share their stories.
In all, Allison, Lillard and Schroeder have combined to knock down more than 323,000 pins and win 13 titles in 178 tournament appearances. To know them is a pleasure, and to hear their stories from the last 60+ years is inspirational. Their passion for the sport and the tournament is unrivaled. And since I've been working at the Open Championships, Lillard and Schroeder have done everything in their power to help promote the tournament.
In 2006, Lillard joined me in Corpus Christi for a special media event to help kick off construction, and he returns each year to be a part of Opening Ceremonies and now Bowlfest. Schroeder continues his work with the Special Olympics and joins us each year for their opening-week event and then stays for opening day. Thanks for everything gentlemen.
Finally, I got to see an old friend from Florida roll a 300 game yesterday, and I had the pleasure of writing about it for USBCopen.com and for the Gainesville Sun (Gainesville, Fla.), where I worked for four years before joining USBC. And while I truly enjoy meeting new people each day and telling their stories, it's even better seeing a friend succeed out here.
Anyway, this week reminded me that I truly do have the job of a lifetime. In fact, my high school yearbook said I planned to be a bowler or a sportswriter, with the stipulation that if I couldn't be a full-time bowler, I'd write about it. So here I am, a former PBA member/sportswriter turned bowling writer. I guess in a way, my dream came true at the Open Championships, too.
Hey everyone,
We are now at full speed, which means squads from 7 a.m. until 2 a.m. every day until July 7.
So far, scores have been good, but we have not seen our first 300. Now that I said that, though, there's going to be a handful on the next squad.
It's probably a good thing that there hasn't been too much action, as those of you who read the message boards already know, I have had my hands full over there too. I do my best to provide prompt and accurate answers about our event, our rules, the venue, the city, etc. I usually spend about 30-45 minutes each morning reading the threads and answering where I can, providing information whenever possible and of course, putting an end to any rumors before they get out of hand.
And while there are thousands of bowlers who read and/or post on the message boards, I know most of them only by screen name. Luckily, I am in the venue at some point every day, so I often get the chance to meet some of the folks whom I've corresponded with online. It makes me realize the value in what I do each day in providing a daily account of the action at the USBC Open Championships. And it definitely makes me feel like a celebrity in my own mind.
I also recently had the chance to talk about the tournament on the "Let's Go Bowling!" show, which I believe is broadcast in Florida, but can be heard on the Internet. Here's the link, which also features interviews with some of the most famous and influential people in our sport. I am thankful for the opportunity to have been included among them (for 10 minutes at least).
Let's Go Bowling Show
I know I mentioned it in an earlier post, but I really enjoy getting to see so many great bowlers and good friends each day at the tournament. Last week for example, Bryan Komornik, Mitch Sacks, Ed Gallagher and their teams were in town and they all bowled great, which was fun to watch and write about.
But, as much as I enjoy work, I also enjoyed having some time off.
On Monday, we started our USBC Open Championships employee league at Leisure Lanes. This year we have 10 lanes, so the league is trios. And because it is so late in the season, we bowl four games so that the folks who travel to the tournament and may not participate in any leagues at home, are are able to get at least 21 games in for an official average. Although I don't get to bowl much this half of the year, I still felt relatively sharp and shot 218, 236, 242 and 279 for 975. I also had 40 clean frames. Not a bad start to the season and a great opportunity to relax and unwind away from work.
I was thinking about testing my skills at the PBA regional event that will be in town on March 15 and 16, but I knew it would never work with my schedule, which requires me to be in the venue from 9 a.m. on every day but Wednesday. I had anticipated sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what was going on at the regional and wondering how I would have done, but I just looked it up, and they will be bowling on the Cheetah pattern. Ever since my PBA regional days in 2003 and 2004, the Cheetah has been my nemesis. At this point, I think it's all mental more than anything, but now I won't worry so much about not being there. I did recently spend about three hours at the Turbo 2n1 Training Center in Michigan practicing on this pattern with USBC Gold coach Lou Marquez, but I've never tested the results of that session in actual competition.
I definitely did see some drastic improvement in my game while I was bowling in the regionals every week back then, and I saw similar results in my two PBA Experience leagues this fall in Milwaukee. There really is no better way to prepare for events like the Open Championships than to challenge yourself week in and week out on tougher conditions that force you to be more accurate, make better shots and convert spares to be successful. And I also think the recent addition of PBA Experience tournaments will be a great thing too.
With that said, I'm going to go watch some bowling.
Just a heads up, we will have some real celebrities in the building in the coming weeks.
First, USBC Hall of Famers Jimmy Schroeder and Glenn Allison will be here on March 15 and 16. Both are members of the 100,000-pin club, and Jimmy will be participating in his 60th Open Championships. Along the same lines, active pinfall leader and hall of famer Bill Lillard will be in town on the 17th and 18th. He will be making his 61st consecutive tournament appearance. It's always a pleasure to sit and talk to these gentlemen. They have so much knowledge and so many memories about the sport and our event.
On March 16, we'll welcome Chip Aki, the first of our defending champions. Chip won Regular Singles last year with 814. He also will be the first champion to see the new championship banners that we've added to the long list of tournament traditions.
